Bitch fights / raising two adult bitches

[elle]

Thanks all, for being here for us. Wonderful thoughts as usual.

BostonRott, I never forget your story of Devon and Froli. Scared me awake and hopefully aware.

(Isn't one definition of lunacy asking the same question several times- hoping for a different answer each time? That's me.)

[LavenderRott]

It's ok, Judi. I have been keeping my eye on the local shelter for a pup to rescue. Now I know to keep my eyes open for a young MALE pup.

[StmprKB]

Bostonrott, I totally remember when that fight happened with your girls....

As for my girls, my house is in such a way that is CAN be separated, and we have separate yards as well. The yards can not "seen" by either as well. Completely separated by the house.

We do have DIRECT STOP, a mace like spray, in several "key areas" of the house, if it comes down to it, that we need to use it.

I neglected to mention that we did consider re homing. My first bitch, Faith, was first to live here, from 8 weeks. No Choosing, she was staying. Merci, came to us "later" in life, she is severely dysplastic, AND now has an aggression history, and a possible bite history (remember, I do NOT know which Bitch bit me). So, I felt as if, I could not unload Merci with bite issues, BUT, more importantly, adding in her known health issues. "Here...take my dog, she is a Ch, but, she is also a potential biter, and has SEVERE HD". So, we chose to seperate....however, I will tell you....my Vet is aware of the problem, and the option of PTS is always available, because she knows the situation and whole story. So....if it ever became where we could not handle, or the agression was too much, one, (Merci) would be put down. I am just being brutally honest, in the hopes someone can learn, and understand, that our decisions are NOT taken lightly, and ALL angles are looked at and considered, and professionals are brought in for consult.

As it is.....both girls are now 8, close to 9...and they are BOTH severely lame. Merci, more so then Faith.... I think it will ultimitely be Merci's pain level that determines when her time is to go.

We have lived separated for 5 years now.....

StmprKB

[BostonRott]

Some reading on bitch aggression:

http://www.caberfeidh.com/Fight.htm

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"Inter-dog aggression escalates when the dogs reach sexual maturity (it doesn’t matter if the animals are spayed or neutered) which is usually between 2 – 3 years old, depending on the breed. Smaller dogs reach sexual maturity sooner, bigger dogs reach sexual maturity later. This explains how dogs can be raised together from puppyhood and then suddenly develops an intense hatred for each other and subsequently starts fighting.

Fighting is worst between female dogs. If a client considering the purchase of a second dog, I will recommend a male with another male or a male and a female. Female dogs will fight to the death and it is best not to put two females in them same household together. They don’t call them bitches for nothing."

Source: http://www.thepetprofessor.com/secAr...Aggression.asp

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From another breed: " Interbitch aggression is very serious and almost no good trainer claims to be able to actually "cure" it. Most who reach a workable solution do so by getting owners to implement a rigorous separation of the two dogs -- management -- with a small amount of behavioral mod."

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An article in a veterinary magazine re: inter-dog aggression. Note the final paragraph:
http://dvm.adv100.com/dvm/article/ar...l.jsp?id=17521

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"Fights between dogs in the household are usually about dominance-or social status aggression. These fights commonly occur when dogs reach social maturity, about 18-24 months of age, but the range is 12-36 months. Fights will be about those resources that are considered most important to dogs. These include food, resting-places, territory, favored possessions, and favored people. Fights then can occur over treats, owner attention, greeting the owner upon return, sleeping positions near the owner, entering or exiting the home, high arousal situations such as fence running, or movement through tight spaces. These fights occur most often between dogs of the same sex and seem to be most severe between female dogs."
Footnoted source: Sherman, CK., Reisner, IR., Taliaferro, LA. & Houpt, KA. : Characteristics, Treatment and Outcome of 99 Cases of Aggression Between Dogs. Applied Animal Behavior Science 47 (1996) 91-108.

Entire article: http://www.vin.com/VINDBPub/SearchPB...00/PR00316.htm

[Carol Burke]

I have to consider myself extremely lucky with bitches. Knock on wood!! I have never had a fight between my girls and I have had as many as 4 girls living together. Right now I have an almost 10 year old and a 2 year old that are great friends and I pray it stays that way. Now, my boys are a different story. I have two intact males that tolerate each other except when my girl is in heat. Then one has to go visit Aunt Joyce and the other lives in a crate for the duration.

[ibkittykat]

I too have had that same poblem. I had 2 rotties, both female, but as one of you said one was a pup and one was four or five. No problems at all. they loved eachother. Then the original one died, she was 14. Well my bright idea was to get another rottie that was about hte same age as Gracie, the one that was first a pup. By this time, she was bout 7 yrs old. So was the Rescue, Gabby. Well I shouldve known. I too had to break up fights, rush to the vet, the whole nine yards. I had to seperate them in different households. Fortunatlly for me, my mom took on the rescue, and I kept my original rottie. It had been that way for just over a year. Well, Gracie went to live with her dad, and I of course wanted Gabby (rescued one) back. Well both girls are happy in different house holds, and Gracie, the "pup" visits me or I visit her. Seems great. Now I am loosing the rescued one, Gabby to cancer. Wish I had more time wiht her. I really suggest seperating the two. Even after a year of seperation, the girls hated eachother, and it only took weeks before they would go at the fighting. I ceartainly have learned a lot.

[Terri Lambert]

I have to bitches that get along wonderfully, one who is 6 years old the other 2 & 1/2 years old the 6 year old is spayed, the other is not. Even though the younger one is dominant, the older one is alpha and puts her in her place if she gets out of line. I know there could always be the potential of a fight but they are never left together when no one is home.

[momof3]

I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. I never knew this was a problem, and at one time had 3 girls at the same time. I now have 2. They play a bit rough at times, but nothing that concerns me or gets out of control. I will continue watching, as now I know this is a possibility